When to Use Video Inspection Services for Sewer Issues

Sewer problems during a Cleveland winter aren’t always easy to figure out. Frozen ground, shifting soil, and older pipes can all make a small issue feel bigger than it is. That’s where video inspection services can help. Instead of guessing what might be wrong, they let us see exactly what’s going on inside the pipes. It makes finding the right fix quicker and a lot more accurate. Knowing when to use this kind of inspection can keep problems from turning into major headaches later on. Let’s take a look at the times when pulling out the camera really makes the most sense.

When Drains Back Up for No Clear Reason

It’s one thing when a single drain slows down. That’s usually a simpler problem right near the surface. But when more than one drain in the house starts acting up, it’s probably something deeper. Maybe things back up in the bathtub and the kitchen sink at the same time. If a plunger doesn’t help or the problem keeps returning, the issue might be further down the line where we can’t see.

Sewer lines run from the house to the street, and if something blocks them, water has nowhere to go. That’s when things bubble back up inside. Instead of guessing where the blockage might be, a video inspection can locate exactly where the trouble is. Sometimes it’s built-up debris or grease deep in the pipe. Other times, it’s a crack or collapse that’s been growing over time. Either way, these inspections let us figure it out without digging or tearing anything apart first.

Reliable Basement and Drain uses high-definition color drain cameras to track slow drains, locate breaks, and reveal hidden blockages for homes throughout Cleveland.

After Heavy Rain or Melting Snow

Cleveland winters are known for sudden snowstorms followed by quick warmups. When all that snow melts at once, the ground can’t always hold the extra water. It pools around the house and yard, and if the soil is already frozen, there’s nowhere for it to go but into nearby drains and sewer pipes.

That kind of pressure can be hard on old lines. Pipes might shift or crack from all the extra weight. In some yards, water might seep into the basement or flood low areas. If that happens around the same time your sewer starts acting up, there may be hidden damage underground.

With frozen soil and icy surfaces, digging isn’t always a good option during winter. Video inspection services give us a safer, cleaner way to look for problems after big weather shifts. They help us know where to focus before things get worse or water finds its way indoors.

Before Major Repairs or Property Changes

Planning a big repair, plumbing upgrade, or home remodel is a good time to be sure everything below ground is in good shape. Sewer lines often go untouched until something goes wrong. But if you’re adding a new bathroom, laying a floor, or selling your home, it’s smart to check that the pipes below are ready to handle the change.

For anyone selling a house, having a recent inspection can help prevent last-minute surprises during closing. Buyers may request one anyway, and it’s better to be informed ahead of time than to rush through a fix under pressure.

During remodeling, inspecting those lines first can avoid setbacks later. It’s frustrating to finish a job upstairs only to open a wall or redo the work later because of a missed issue underground. These inspections give clear answers before the heavy lifting starts—and help keep the whole project moving the right way.

Reliable Basement and Drain recommends sewer video inspections before finishing basements, selling properties, or upgrading bathrooms in older Cleveland homes.

When Tree Roots or Old Pipes Could Be the Problem

Cleveland’s tree-lined streets are beautiful, but those big roots go where they want—including into pipes. If you’ve got older plumbing, like clay or cast iron pipes, roots can find tiny openings and slowly grow their way in. Over time, they block flow or even break the pipe apart.

If your drains are slow, you hear a gurgling sound, or you smell something off every time water runs, roots could be the cause. Sometimes your water bill shows it first. A sudden rise without any change in use may point to a leak underground.

Video inspections are one of the best ways to catch root problems early. Instead of waiting for a pipe to collapse or flood your basement, putting a camera down the line shows us exactly where and how thick the roots have gotten. It makes planning the fix much easier and helps prevent bigger damage later.

Video inspection services at Reliable Basement and Drain can pinpoint root intrusion or misaligned joints and guide trenchless or minimally invasive repairs.

A Smarter Way to Spot the Real Issue

Digging into a yard or tearing up a floor doesn’t sound fun in any season—especially not in the middle of winter. That’s why video inspection services have become such a trusted tool. They let us see what’s going on from the inside without making a mess on the outside.

Every sewer or drain problem has its own cause. It might be a break, a clog, or something simple like buildup on the pipe walls. Without a camera, that’s tough to tell. But with one, we can look at the whole line in real time, spot weak spots, and walk away with answers. It saves time and helps make sure the job gets done right the first time.

These inspections also help us understand how wide the problem is. If only part of the line is affected, repair options can be smaller and more focused. If the whole line is aging, we’ll see that too—helping make a plan that works now and later.

Keep Sewer Surprises from Turning into Big Problems

Cold weather, shifting ground, and older pipes all make sewer issues more likely in the winter. By knowing when to get a closer look, we can stop small concerns before they grow. Whether it’s weird smells, a floor drain backing up, or strange gurgling sounds, finding out what’s going on below the surface matters.

Camera inspections aren’t about guessing. They’re about getting the facts in the cleanest, quickest way. Especially in winter, when everything is harder to reach and the risk of damage gets bigger, having a tool that shows us the inside of the pipe makes a big difference. The better we see the problem, the better we can fix it—and that helps keep everything moving the way it should.

If sewer trouble has you guessing this winter, it might be time to take a closer look underground. Freezing temperatures in Cleveland and shifting soil can put extra pressure on older lines, causing problems you can’t always see. Our camera lets us check pipes without digging things up, so you get answers quicker and with less mess. See how our video inspection services can help find what’s really going on before the damage spreads. Contact Reliable Basement and Drain to schedule an inspection.